The Pie Shop Opens in East Brunswick

The good ol’ Aussie pie. Is there anything better? Chefs Matt Wilkinson (Pope Joan) and Steve Rogers (ex Circa, Movida) have opened The Pie Shop – a new pastry-filled paradise – at 75 Nicholson Street, East Brunswick and The World Loves Melbourne was invited along soon after the launch. The verdict - worth a drive across town.

The Aussie pie has been a popular offering almost since settlement. Growing up we were exposed to pies where a 10% meat content requirement was barely met; and was it in fact meat (or just gristle)? Things have changed for the better and Matt Wilkinson and Steve Rogers have given the humble pie a turbo boost and heightened status. These are modern pies at their best, and not without innovation and savvy. The opening menu features savoury and sweet pies, a little pie for the little ones, plus extras like hot chips, steaming dim sims, and the old faithful Mars Bar or Snickers to shove in your back pocket for the bike ride home.

With the wonder of a child I contemplated the choices in the display cabinet. There are five savoury pies on offer: The Bruce (spag bol); The Allen (chunky beef and veg); The Shazza (caramelised onion, cauliflower & cheese); The Daryl (curried turkey); and The Clancy (pumpkin, chard and haloumi). Great Aussie names we think (everyone knows a Bruce and a Shazza and no doubt a Daryl). There is also a Little Bruce pie (mini-sized spag bol) for the youngsters.

Pie heaven is a happy place.

Pie graphic.

The World Loves Melbourne sampled The Bruce; like your Nonna's best spag bol in a pie with a nuance of red wine. Winter warmer overdrive! The Clancy was a pie bordering on a pasty; a substantial pie full of goodness from top ingredients and a walk on the healthy side. The pizza dough pastry adds to it all. The Welsh miners of yesteryear would have loved to have taken these chartopping pies into the mines. Then again, the creatives of East Brunswick are sourcing these standout pies to bring to their artsy offices.

Steve is something of a Bernard Fanning lookalike; my (pie) happiness (I know I know what is inside)...

Nonna would be proud...

Coming home to Clancy. Feels like we've met before. Soft curvy pizza dough and a cacophony of flavour inside with generous chunks of pumpkin, chard and haloumi.

This is about full flavour, top notch ingredients, a chunky factor and a killer pastry. What is there not to like about this place? And plenty of sauce on hand too.

There are also two sweet pies on offer: Strawberry Balsamic and Alphington Rooftop Honey and Buttermilk. Sweet pies are sold by the slice and will change regularly depending on seasonal produce. We can vouch for the Strawberry Balsamic which is sure to become your next favourite thing.

The Allen, The Shazza and the two sweet pies also come in family size to takeaway cold; however, the sweet pies require at least 24 hours notice.